A brutal attack on a Hindu businessman in Bangladesh’s Shariatpur district on New Year’s Eve has left him fighting for his life after he was attacked and set on fire by a group of miscreants, sparking fresh concerns about a spate of incidents of mob violence in the country. The incident took place around 9.30 pm in Damudya area, near Keurbhanga Bazar in Koneshwar Union. The victim, 50-year-old Khokon Chandra Das, was reportedly assaulted, beaten and doused with petrol before being set on fire, news agency ANI reported quoting Prothom Alo.
Das was later shifted to Dhaka for further treatment as his condition deteriorated, the report said.Police sources said Das is a resident of Tiloi village in Koneshwar Union and runs a pharmacy and mobile banking business in Keurbhanga Bazar. On Wednesday evening, after closing his shop, he was returning home in an autorickshaw when the attackers stopped the vehicle on the Damudya-Shariatpur road near the market and attacked him.According to Prothom Alo, the miscreants attacked him with sharp weapons before setting him on fire. In a desperate attempt to save himself, Das jumped into a nearby roadside pond. Hearing his screams, residents rushed to the spot and forced the attackers to flee.Later, locals rescued Das and took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital where he was given first aid at the emergency room. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was referred to Dhaka for further treatment later that night.Sima Das, the victim’s wife, said the family was struggling to understand why he was targeted. “My husband returns home every evening after closing his business with the day’s sales proceeds. On Wednesday evening, he was attacked by criminals. He recognized two of the attackers, and so they attacked him with the intention of killing him by hacking him and setting his head and face on fire after pouring gasoline on him. We have no enemies in the area. We do not have any dispute with anyone on any matter. We cannot understand why the criminals suddenly targeted my husband.”Nazrul Islam, a doctor at the emergency department of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, said the victim suffered multiple injuries when he was admitted. He added that an abdominal injury was particularly serious, prompting doctors to refer him to Dhaka. Das also suffered burns to his face, back of the head and hands.Mohammad Rabiul Haque, officer-in-charge of Damudya police station, said police swung into action after receiving information about the attack. “After receiving information about a terrorist attack on a businessman in Keurbhanga Bazar, we went to the scene. The names of two of the attackers have been identified. They are the local Rabbi and Sohag. Efforts are being made to arrest them. We are also trying to identify others who may be involved in the incident,” he said, quoted by Prothom Alo.The attack comes amid a series of violent incidents against members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Last month, two Hindu youths were lynched in separate incidents. Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker in Mymensingh district, was beaten to death on December 18 over alleged blasphemy charges, after which his body was reportedly hanged and set on fire.In another case, a Hindu youth identified as Amrit Mondal was lynched in Hosendanga village of Kalimohor Union in Pangsha sub-district of Rajbari over an alleged extortion dispute.These incidents have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation among political leaders, religious organizations and minority groups in both Bangladesh and India.
